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What will make Africa developed - I think, above other issues, we have first of all to solve the issue of civil wars. Civil wars keep driving us back - one step forward and a couple of decades backwards. I think that is the first thing: strengthening the structures which exist, like the AU as a platform for solving problems, ECOWAS, the organization SADC in Southern Africa. Strengthening those, well, meeting places, where practical decisions are taken to resolve issues before they get out of hand. I think that is the primary issue.
The civil wars, for me, are more devastating than even AIDS for the African continent. AIDS, at least, we can leave those to the doctors. Now, there is nothing personally I can do about that. But, at least, I think, those who are the leadership of the continent can really resolve this particular plague which is taking us back many decades.
African leadership forgets what exists in the philosophy of African nation that is of relevance even for the contemporary society. And I think one of those is the principle of tolerance which is been lost, you know, I regret, even on the African continent. I am always shocked by the ultra-nationalism which is taking place in Europe right now. And I think that, if the lessons for instance of the Yoruba religion, which is one of a great inclusivity - I think, Europe can learn a lot from the philosophy of Yoruba traditional religions.
I regret to say that I cannot say that there is a technology which can overtake cyberspace right now. I regret very much that I cannot say that Africa can contribute to space research - although we have Africans, evidently, who are working at NASA, and so are part of the brain drain we are talking about. But collectivity - I believe it lies in the philosophy of African society. Which is being lost, as I said, even to contemporary leaders in the African continent.
